UFC stars Irene Aldana and Karol Rosa left unrecognisable and disfigured after bloody three-round war Joe Rogan loved
UFC stars Irene Aldana and Karol Rosa looked unrecognisable as they posed for a post-fight hospital photo.
The women's bantamweight stars took part in a war for the ages on a stacked UFC 296 card in Las Vegas on Sunday morning.
Brazilian Rosa looked to be on course for the biggest win of her career after a round and a half of brutalising Aldana's lead leg.
She also did a number on the Mexican's face, although the former title challenger came back strong in the third round.
Aldana bludgeoned Rosa's face with crisp boxing in the second half of the third, to the point where blood was profusely pouring.
Both fighters were transported to the hospital for further medical assessments after Aldana was given the nod via unanimous decision.
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And they were completely disfigured as they smiled through the pain for a post-fight photo from Rosa's hospital bed.
MMA fans were quick to comment on their horrific facial injuries, with one saying: "Warriors."
Another said: "What. A. Fight. Thank you ladies."
And another said: "HOF fight."
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One remarked: "Damn, look at Rosa's eye"
Another chimed in: "These two put on a show!!!!!! No quit in either one."
In her post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Aldana revealed she was unable to check Rosa's hard leg kicks as she was nursing an injury ahead of the fight.
She said: "I came injured. I have had an injury in this knee for like a year.
"It hurts, but we trained to swallow the pain and keep going tonight.
“The fight didn’t help because it hurts, but nothing serious."
Rogan was blown away by the fight, saying: "Irene Aldana, that was one of the best fights in my entire life.
“Toe-to-toe from the first bell! What was the experience like for you?
"What a fight! And the amount of leg kicks that you took, we were really concerned. Look at the swelling on your left leg, that is insane!